ALABAMA GANG

BOBBY, DONNIE, AND RED

Bobby left Miami, Florida in 1959 in search of “racing territory”. He had with him his brother Donnie who rode along mainly for the adventure of the whole trip. Also along on the trip were two other Florida youngsters, Kenny Andrews and Gil Hearn. Gil went along to drive for Kenny. As they drove into Montgomery, Alabama they spotted a very attractive 34 Chevy modified with a Cadillac engine parked at a gas station. There they met the owner a young man named Bo Freeman. Bo showed them Montgomery Speedway. There they found out that races were being run that very night at Dixie Speedway in Midfield, Alabama.

It was a Friday Night and away they went. Bobby finished 5th in the heat, 5th in the semi-final, and 5th in the feature. That one night paid more than any one of them had ever won in South Florida even finishing as high as second in a special event. The next night (Sat.) Montgomery Speedway was running so they headed there. Bobby had fast time, won the heat and the semi-final, won the Australian Pursuit race and finished second to Sonny Black in the feature. They then went over to Georgia for the peach bowl in Atlanta on Sunday Night.

The next weekend they started at Dixie Speedway on Friday Night and Bobby had engine trouble immediately and he did not get to run that night. After the races Gil decided to quit and go back to Florida so Bobby suggested to Kenny that he let Donnie drive, and they left together for Montgomery. Harry Mewborne owner of another winning race car, told Bobby, he would help him by selling him some used parts the next morning. Bobby got a few parts free from Harry and went to Bo Freeman’s gas station to patch up his car. Bobby got to Montgomery Speedway late and had to start last in the feature. Boy what a night! Bobby got his first win even starting last. When the weekend was over, Bobby went back to Miami and told his hero Red Farmer what a great place Alabama was. Red decided to come back to Alabama with Bobby and Donnie. They all made residence in Alabama and soon traveled the Southeast winning races, a lot of races and Bobby, Donnie and Red thus became known as “THE ALABAMA GANG”.